Blue Jays legendary pitcher Scherzer placed on injury list due to forearm tendonitis and ankle inflammation

The Toronto Blue Jays today placed legendary right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm tendonitis and left ankle inflammation. This is another blow for the Blue Jays, whose starting rotation injuries nearly match the number of healthy players.

Scherzer has been troubled by forearm tendonitis since his second start of the season, when he unexpectedly left the game early, which the team initially described as a precautionary measure.

In his four subsequent starts, Scherzer's stats were as follows:

12.2 innings

19 earned runs

6 home runs

7 walks

6 strikeouts

Even after his most recent poor outing against the Cleveland Guardians, Scherzer insisted that his forearm was not the main reason for his struggles.

Surprisingly, the ankle issue was the biggest problem during Scherzer's latest appearance. Reviewing the game footage, Scherzer noticed he was constantly adjusting his mechanics throughout his delivery to avoid discomfort in his landing foot. Scherzer knows well that when a pitcher tries to adjust his body around an injury, problems can quickly pile up. Therefore, he agreed with the medical team's plan for a short shutdown.

"I just felt something wasn't right. Pitching coach Pete Walker was right there, and we both saw it," Scherzer said. "We just felt I wasn't in a condition to continue right now. Looking at the calendar, it's still April, the season is early, and this is the time I can get my body back on track."

Scherzer called this a "double whammy." He thinks he could manage one issue alone, but handling two simultaneously? At this early stage of the season, it's like walking a tightrope.

Scherzer's ankle and foot problems are not as widely known as his forearm injury, but they are equally troublesome. He hopes both injuries can recover in sync. No further MRI is needed currently, and Scherzer said he also doesn't require an anti-inflammatory injection at this time—just straightforward rest and rehabilitation.

"After that start against the Minnesota Twins, I was really worried about my forearm. The next day I woke up thinking all about my forearm, but after checking it, it was fine. Then I almost fell when getting out of bed because my foot hurt so badly," Scherzer said. "I've been putting a lot of effort into getting my foot back to a state where it can support me."

This adds another hole to the Blue Jays' starting rotation, but they are already accustomed to this pattern. Cody Ponce is likely out for the season due to ACL surgery, Shane Bieber is still slowly increasing his workload due to elbow and forearm issues, and Bowden Francis underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year. Trey Yesavage is finally set to return on Wednesday for his 2026 season debut, and José Berríos will follow shortly after, but the Blue Jays seem stuck in an endless cycle where everyone is pushing hard just to keep their heads above water.

Berríos will still make his scheduled rehab start on Wednesday in Triple-A, with a slightly increased pitch count. Therefore, this rotation shuffle might even create space for Eric Lauer to re-enter the rotation for one start, or at least serve as the primary innings-eater in a bullpen day. Lauer was previously removed from the rotation due to Yesavage's impending return.

Amid all the chaos, Patrick Corbin has become one of the team's most crucial pitchers. The one-year, $1 million contract the Blue Jays gave him in early April now looks worth every penny. This veteran left-hander precisely provides what this starting rotation most needs: a stable line of defense amidst the turmoil.

In Triple-A Buffalo, the Blue Jays also have long-inning options like Chad Dallas, CJ Van Eyk, and Adam Macko available, but the team's pitching depth has been exhausted just one month into the 2026 season, exceeding everyone's expectations.

When Scherzer was placed on the injured list this time, he was just one strikeout away from the historic milestone of 3,500 career strikeouts. Only ten pitchers in MLB history have achieved this feat.